Portable folding warning sign standard

ABSTRACT

A portable folding standard for supporting a sign has an A-frame pivoted at the top so that the legs can be collapsed into a folded position, bracing links pivoted to the A-frame which can be locked when the frame is in open position and folded alongside the frame when the frame is in closed position, a swinging frame pivoted to the top of the A-frame, balancing springs connected between the swinging frame and the A-frame, and a vertical mast, adaptable for elevation, carried on the swinging frame. The frame and mast are provided with means for exhibiting a sign when the standard is in open position and for storing the sign when the standard is in folded or closed position.

United States Patent Dicke [54] PORTABLE FOLDING WARNING SIGN STANDARD[72] lnventor: Clarence C. Dlcke, Downers Grove, Ill. [73] Assignee:Dlcke Tool Company, Downers Grove, Ill. [22] Filed: Dec. 15, 1970 211App]. No.: 98,307

52 us. c|......'. ..248/448, 40/125 H, 248/413,

5 11 m. c1. ..G09t 19/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..248/166, 173,448, 449,460,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,750,118 3/1930 Mueller etal 40/125 H x 364,991 ..248/449 2,550,550 .....248/448 2,844,897 Nance..40/125 H [4 1 July 18, 1972 3,557,479 l/l97l Allison et al ..40/125 H2,059,996 1 l/ I936 Goldberg ..40/125 l-l 3,527,434 9/ l 970 Mauro...248/ l 66 2,297,316 9/l942 Padgett ..248/166 Primary ExaminerWilliamH. Schultz Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson 57 ABSTRACT Aportable folding standard for supporting a sign has an A- frame pivotedat the top so that the legs can be collapsed into a folded position,bracing links pivoted to the A-frame which can be locked when the frameis in open position and folded alongside the frame when the frame is inclosed position. a swinging frame pivoted to the top of the Aframe,balancing springs connected between the swinging frame and the A- frame,and a vertical mast, adaptable for elevation, carried on the swingingframe. The frame and mast are provided with means for exhibiting a signwhen the standard is in open position and for storing the sign when thestandard is in folded or closed position.

13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1912 3,677,511

2 Sheets-Sheet l 53 2 5/ 3 5 7 I 1 T" m .55 I

f INVENTOR.

BY g 4, 210 ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,511

2 Sheets-Sheet z I N VENTOR.

1 PORTABLEIFOL'DING WARNING SIGN STANDARD BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe object of this invention is to provide a compact, portable, foldablestandard for exhibitingwarning road signs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a standard which isadjustable to receive signs of different sizes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a standard havingmeans for storing a sign when the standard is in closed or foldedposition.

A stillfurther object of the invention is to provide a portable,foldable, sign standard which is capable of standing erect and resistbeing blown over when subjected to gusts of wind.

Another object of the invention is to provide a standard in which springmeans for balancing a swingable frame are enclosed and protected in anundistorted position when the standard is folded.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 of the drawing is a frontvertical diagrammatic view of the sign standard in accordance with theinvention; FIG. 2 is a side vertical diagrammatic view of the standardshown in FIG. 1 in the open position; FIG. 3 is a side elevational viewof the sign standard shown in FIG. I in the closed position with themast lowered; and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing, thenumerals 1 and 3 represent a pair of Lshaped angle bars pivoted togetherat their upper ends 5. It will be apparent from FIG. 1 and 3 that. theangle bars 1 and 3 are mounted in position so that the bar or leg 1 willfit inside of leg 3 when the legs are folded. There are two pairs oflegs, one on each side of the A-frame, the two pairs of legs beingpivotedonthe' round bar 7 and retained thereon by suitable nutsig untothe threaded ends of the bar. A pair of; tira'clng linlts' 11 and 13 arepivoted at 15 to a locking plate 1'7.-Plate 1'7 is a twosided plateclosed at the top and open at the bottom.- The ends of links 11 and 13are located between the two sides of the plate. The link 11 is pivotedat the opposite end 19 to leg 3 and link i3 is pivoted at itsoppositeend 21 to an L- shaped bracket 23 which, in turn is rivettedorotherwisefastened to leg 1, as shown at 24. Am 25 of bracket whichthe'link 13 is fastened is spaced outwardly fronil 1 inorder to provideroom between the arm and the leg 3 for the links 11 and 13 when infolded position. When in fully opened position, the pivot 15 is a shortdistance below pivots'19 and 21 and is maintained in this position bythe lock plate 17 which abuts against the upper edges of the links. Byplacing the pivot point 15 below the pivots 19 and 21, the possibilityof the standard inadvertently folding by upward movement of the pivotpoint 15 is avoided. There is a similar linkage between the other twolegs of the A-frame.

Pivotally mounted on the pivot rod 7 between the pairs of legs of theA'-frame is a swingable frame 27. Frame 27 is formed of two verticalL-shaped angle bars 29 tied together by horizontal L-shaped cross bar 31at the bottom, L-shaped cross bar 33 at the top, and L-shaped cross bar35 spaced a short distance below bar 33. A bar 37 which may be L-shapcdor a plain bar extends across the frame at a short distance below thepivot rod 7. Extending outwardly from the sides 29 of the frame arespring retainers 39 to which one end of each of the springs 41 and 43 isfastened on each side of the frame. The other ends of the springs aresimilarly attached to spring retainers 45 on the inside of the L-shapedlegs 1 and 3. The spring retainers 39 are located above the pivot points19 and 21, and the spring retainers 45 are located below the pivotpoints 19 and 21. The distance between the retainers 45 and 39 when thestandard is in folded position is substantially equal to the length ofthe springs 41 and 43 when not distended, thereby enabling them to bestored without distortion, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Because the endsof the springs are fastened to retainers 39 on the outer side edges ofthe frame and to spring retainers 45 positioned on the inner surface 47of L-shaped leg I and inner surface 49 of L-shaped leg 3, the springswill lie side-by-side when in folded position and are enclosed betweenlegs 1 and 3 and arm 29 of the swingable frame so that they are fullyprotected from becoming entangled with tools or instruments when loadedon a truck or stored.

Mounted on the cross bar 31 at the bottom of the swingable frame arepanel storage clips 51 and 53. Also mounted on the cross bar 31 is amast guide 55 which may be formed of a bent iron rod welded to thecenter portion of the bar. A second mast guide 57 is welded to the crossbar 37 at the center thereof. A third mast guide 59 is welded betweencross bars 33 and 35 at the center thereof. The mast guide59 ispreferably a channel of sufficient length to act as a support for themast in fully elevated position. A pressure plate 61 is located withinthe mast guide 59. The plate 61 has its ends 63 turned outwardly inorder to help retain it within the guide. A thumb screw 65 is threadedthrough a threaded hole in the guide 59 in order to exert pressureagainst the pressure plate 61 which, in turn, maintains the mast 67 atthe desired elevation by friction.

The mast 67 is adapted to slide vertically in the guide 59 and to passthrough guides 57 and 55 whenin lowered position. The mast 67'may bemade of L-shaped angle or square bar to prevent turning. Mounted on theupper end of the mast 67 by welding or other suitable means is a panelretaining yoke 69 formed with panel retainers 71 and 73 and storage clip75. The retainers 71 and 73 are adapted to retain the upper end of asign 76 when the standard is in open position. The clip 75 is adapted toretain the upper end of the sign when the sign is stored in the standardin folded position, as shown in FIG. 3. Also mounted at the upper end ofthe mast are a pair of flag sockets 77. Mounted on the side arms 29 ofthe swingable frame, adjacent the upper end thereof, there are panelretainers or support hooks 79 and 81 which are adapted to cooperate withthe retainers 71 and 73 to hold a sign when the standard is in openposition. Support hooks 79 and 81 may be coated with plastic or anelastomer to avoid scratching of the sign. Short, spaced metalprojections 83 extend outwardly from bar 37 to assist in centering thesign or panel 76.

The side arms 29 of the swingable frame 27 are bent inwardly at 85sufficiently to clear the legs 1 and 3 and to accommodate the springretainers 39 between the legs 1 and 3 when the standard is folded. Thebottom ends of arms 29 are bent outwardly at 87 to lie between legs 1and 3 when folded, to serve the function of preventing the frame 27 fromswinging when the sign is folded and to limit the swinging arc of frame27 when the standard is in open position.

The upper ends of the legs 1 and 3 are cut out at 89 to accommodate theframe 27 and to permit it to swing in the direction of either arm. Thesecutouts should be of sufficient depth so that the bottom end of theframe can swing as far as either leg when the frame is in open position.

It will be apparent that signs of different sizes can be accommodated onthe standard by raising or lowering the mast 67.

When it is desired to remove the sign it is only necessary to raise themast sufficiently to raise the retainers 71 and 73 clear of the sign andremove the sign from the standard. Ordinarily, the sign will be made intwo halves, with suitable hinges so that the sign can be folded alongthe line 85. After removal of the sign, the standard is collapsed bypushing upwardly on the lock plates 17 and bringing the legs 1 insidethe legs 3. The sign is then placed with its edge 91 on'the panelstorage clips 51 and 53 and the mast is lowered until the panel storageclip 75 fits over the top edge of the folded sign, as shown in FIG. 3.

It will be apparent from the aforesaid description that the standardholds rigid or semi-rigid sign plates in both open and folded positionwithout the necessity of fastening the sign to the frame by screws orother fastening means. This is made possible by the adjustable mast andthe cooperating sign retainers and storage clips between which the signtits and is held firmly in place.

It will be seen, therefore, that I have provided a road sign standardwhich is adapted to retain its position even in the face of high windsby virtue of the fact that the swingable frame will swing in thedirection of the wind and relieve the pressure against the A-frame. Itwill also be apparent from the foregoing description that the standardis constructed in a manner to prevent accidental collapse and to allowfolding thereof into a compact structure with the balancing springsprotected during storage between the legs of the frame. Anotherimportant feature of the standard is that it is so constructed that whenin collapsed position the swingable frame is prevented from swinging andthe mast can be lowered to reduce the overall size of the support.

I claim as my invention:

1. A portable folding sign standard having a swingable frame pivotallymounted on a horizontal pivot intermediate its top and bottom, on afoldable support having two pairs of legs diverging from the pivot tothe lower ends thereof, coil springs means between said frame and saidlegs to limit the swinging motion of said frame, brace links pivoted tooppositely diverging legs intermediate the ends thereof and adapted tobe locked together in horizontal position to maintain said legs in fixedspread-apart position, characterized in that said springs are fastenedto said frame at a position intermediate the top r and bottom thereof ata point spaced from the point of attachment thereof to said legs whenthe standard is in closed position substantially equal to the length ofthe spring when not distended, said frame has a vertically adjustablemast mounted thereon, and means are provided on the upper end of saidmast cooperating with means on said frame for positioning a sign plateand removably holding it in a vertical position.

2. A portable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 1 in whichthe means on the upper end of the mast is a yoke and the means on theframe cooperating with the yoke for positioning and holding a sign plateare retainers at opposite sides of the frame at the same horizontallevel.

3. A portable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 2 in whichthe mast is located centrally of the frame.

4. A portable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 3 in whichthe frame has one or more supporting clips fastened to the bottomportion thereof and a clip fastened to the upper end of said mast, saidclips being placed so as to support a sign plate when the standard is infolded position.

5. A portable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 1 in whichthe said frame has a plurality of horizontal, vertically spacedcrossbars with guides fastened thereto to maintain said mast in verticalposition.

6. A portable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 5 in whichat least one of said guides has means for maintaining said mast at aselected elevation.

7. A portable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 6 in whichsaid means for maintaining said mast at a selected elevation are apressure plate positioned within said guide means and a thumb screwthreaded through said guide means against said pressure plate.

8. A portable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 1 includingmeans extending laterally outward from the lower portion of said frameto a distance in line with a pair of said legs.

9. A portable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 1 in whichsaid legs are fabricated from L-shaped angles and said springs arefastened to said legs in such manner that when the standard is foldedthe springs will lie between each pair of legs in protected, undistortedposition.

10. A portable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 8 in whichsaid legs are fabricated from L-shaped angles and said springs arefastened to said legs in such manner that when the standard is foldedthe springs will lie between each pair of legs in protected, undistortedcondition.

11. A portable folding sign standard having foldable legs with a signsupporting frame pivotally mounted on said legs characterized by avertically adjustable member mounted on said frame, means on said frameadapted to loosely support the lower edges of a substantially square,rigid s|gn or panel in a diagonal position, separate means on said framefor loosely supporting the bottom edge of said sign or panel when placedwith two opposite edges in a horizontal position, means on saidvertically adjustable member for retaining the upper edges of said signor panel when placed in a diagonal position on said standard, andseparate means for retaining the upper edge of said sign or panel whenplace on said standard with two opposite sides in a horizontal position,said supporting and retaining means being such as to release said signor panel from the frame upon vertical movement of said adjustablemember.

12. A portable folding sign standard comprising two pairs of legs havingan L-shaped cross-section, each pair having a pivotal connection, aswingable frame pivotally mounted between said pairs of legs by saidpivotal connections, said frame having side members a portion at leastof which is spaced inwardly of but adjacent to said legs, a coil springextending between said frame and each leg of a pair, said springs beingattached to said legs and said frame at locations spaced apart adistance when the standard is folded, substantially equal to theundistended length of said springs, and the springs being fastened tosaid frame and said legs in such manner as to nest between said pair oflegs and said portion of said side members.

13. A portable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 12including a pair of bracing links each being pivotally connected at oneend to one of a pair of legs and to each other at their other end, saidlinks being of such length as to permit the pivot connectionthcrebetween to assume a position a short distance below the pivotconnections between the legs and links when the standard is in uprightfully opened position, and a locking means to retain said pivotconnection between said links in said position.

1. A portable folding sign standard having a swingable frame pivotallymounted on a horizontal pivot intermediate its top and bottom, on afoldable support having two pairs of legs diverging from the pivot tothe lower ends thereof, coil springs means between said frame and saidlegs to limit the swinging motion of said frame, brace links pivoted tooppositely diverging legs intermediate the ends thereof and adapted tobe locked together in horizontal position to maintain said legs in fixedspreadapart position, characterized in that said springs are fastened tosaid frame at a position intermediate the top and bottom thereof at apoint spaced from the point of attachment thereof to said legs when thestandard is in closed position substantially equal to the length of thespring when not distended, said frame has a vertically adjustable mastmounted thereon, and means are provided on the upper end of said mastcooperating with means on said frame for positioning a sign plate andremovably holding it in a vertical position.
 2. A portable folding signstandard in accordance with claim 1 in which the means on the upper endof the mast is a yoke and the means on the frame cooperating with theyoke for positioning and holding a sign plate are retainers at oppositesides of the frame at the same horizontal level.
 3. A portable foldingsign standard in accordance with Claim 2 in which the mast is locatedcentrally of the frame.
 4. A portable folding sign standard inaccordance with claim 3 in which the frame has one or more supportingclips fastened to the bottom portion thereof and a clip fastened to theupper end of said mast, said clips being placed so as to support a signplate when the standard is in folded position.
 5. A portable foldingsign standard in accordance with claim 1 in which the said frame has aplurality of horizontal, vertically spaced crossbars with guidesfastened thereto to maintain said mast in vertical position.
 6. Aportable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 5 in which atleast one of said guides has means for maintaining said mast at aselected elevation.
 7. A portable folding sign standard in accordancewith claim 6 in which said means for maintaining said mast at a selectedelevation are a pressure plate positioned within said guide means and athumb screw threaded through said guide means against said pressureplate.
 8. A portable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 1including means extending laterally outward from the lower portion ofsaid frame to a distance in line with a pair of said legs.
 9. A portablefolding sign standard in accordance with claim 1 in which said legs arefabricated from L-shaped angles and said springs are fastened to saidlegs in such manner that when the standard is folded the springs willlie between each pair of legs in protected, undistorted position.
 10. Aportable folding sign standard in accordance with claim 8 in which saidlegs are fabricated from L-shaped angles and said springs are fastenedto said legs in such manner that when the standard is folded the springswill lie between each pair of legs in protected, undistorted condition.11. A portable folding sign standard having foldable legs with a signsupporting frame pivotally mounted on said legs characterized by avertically adjustable member mounted on said frame, means on said frameadapted to loosely support the lower edges of a substantially square,rigid sign or panel in a diagonal position, separate means on said framefor loosely supporting the bottom edge of said sign or panel when placedwith two opposite edges in a horizontal position, means on saidvertically adjustable member for retaining the upper edges of said signor panel when placed in a diagonal position on said standard, andseparate means for retaining the upper edge of said sign or panel whenplace on said standard with two opposite sides in a horizontal position,said supporting and retaining means being such as to release said signor panel from the frame upon vertical movement of said adjustablemember.
 12. A portable folding sign standard comprising two pairs oflegs having an L-shaped cross-section, each pair having a pivotalconnection, a swingable frame pivotally mounted between said pairs oflegs by said pivotal connections, said frame having side members aportion at least of which is spaced inwardly of but adjacent to saidlegs, a coil spring extending between said frame and each leg of a pair,said springs being attached to said legs and said frame at locationsspaced apart a distance when the standard is folded, substantially equalto the undistended length of said springs, and the springs beingfastened to said frame and said legs in such manner as to nest betweensaid pair of legs and said portion of said side members.
 13. A portablefolding sign standard in accordance with claim 12 including a pair ofbracing links each being pivotally connected at one end to one of a pairof legs and to each other at their other end, said links being of suchlength as to permit the pivot connection therebetween to assume aposition a short distance below the pivot connections between the legsand links when the standard is in upright fully opened position, and alocking means to retain said pivot connection between said links in saidposition.